Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/2–1653: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Dunn ) to the Department of State ¹

secret
priority

Paris , February 16, 1953—9 p.m.

4595. Reference: Embassy telegram 4558 of 13 February.² Subject is European Defense Community—United Kingdom association.

Request all addressees to limit distribution on this and immediately following telegram.³

Foreign Office official who accompanied Mayer and Bidault to London⁴ gave Embassy officer this afternoon text of French proposal for British participation in EDC (text in translation contained in immediately following telegram). Official emphasized he was doing so on “personal basis and without authorization”. Following represents synthesis of his comments and those of Alphand on text.

(1) Proposal designed not to effect British “association with” EDC, but “participation in” EDC without, however, submission by British to supranational authority or relinquishment of sovereignty.

(2) British would be given right to “participate” in EDC Council of Ministers, Assembly and Commissariat in return for United Kingdom commitment to maintain present level of forces on continent and only for as long as they satisfy this condition. United Kingdom could withdraw forces in case of emergency under same conditions as French could withdraw EDC forces under proposed EDC protocol on Article 13. French point out that legal obligation accepted by British is no greater than their present obligation to NATO but that moral obligation, particularly in public mind, is much stronger.

When we asked what would happen if level of United Kingdom forces were changed by NATO decision or by withdrawal, Alphand replied paper was hastily drafted and this problem would have to be worked out.

(3) Presumably British Minister would only participate on an invitational basis in Council of Ministers discussions. Question of weighted voting would not arise because decisions would be taken by Council of Ministers separately and agreement would afterwards be reached with United Kingdom Minister.

(4) French pointed out that parliamentary observers also would have right to speak and vote only on an invitational basis and that powers of EDC assembly only theoretically touch on matters of United Kingdom treaty of association and matters covered in French memorandum. Alphand admits, however, that participation of United Kingdom parliamentary observers as proposed might require change in language of EDC treaty and does not see clearly how this question will be worked out. Foreign Office official, on other hand insists that proposal would require no changes in text of EDC treaty or renegotiation of treaty, nor now would it require a separate treaty. He felt that it could be handled by protocol to treaty itself or some similar device.

(5) Alphand said original proposal had suggested that British representative actually participate and vote in EDC commissariat. This had been changed at his insistence so that British representative would only attend deliberations by invitation and would not have right to participate in vote of commissariat. Of course, agreement would have to be reached later with British.

(6) Proposal has not yet been discussed with other 5 EDC signatories, Foreign Office official said, but he believed it would be welcomed in Benelux and Italy, although he had doubts re Adenauer. Alphand, on other hand, was quite concerned about reactions of other countries. He was particularly worried that Adenauer might be quite upset by fact French had started discussions with United Kingdom on EDC association without consulting other member states in EDC.⁵ Foreign Office official also believed it would satisfy French Socialists.

(7) Foreign Office official said it was anticipated that British would participate very frequently in meetings of EDC institutions in practice and that participation would not be limited to matters of strict interest to British.

In response to question re British reaction to proposal, Foreign Office official said Churchill had appeared view it “not unfavorably”, but Eden’s reaction rather less favorable as was that of Foreign Office “functionaries” with whom it was discussed. Official added that although he thought it would be “difficult for British to refuse” so reasonable a proposal, their preliminary reaction did not leave him “overly optimistic”.

Dunn

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
2. Not printed; it transmitted the status of problems requiring resolution “one way or another” prior to EDC ratification and requested comments (740.5/2–1353).
3. Telegram 4596, Feb. 16, not printed (740.5/2–1653).
4. On Feb. 12–13, Prime Minister Mayer, Foreign Minister Bidault, and Minister for Economic Affairs Buron traveled to London for talks with British officials.
5. A handwritten notation in the margin at this point reads: “Reads the newspapers doesn’t he? Also UK mil assoc memo.”